Griffith named Sunnyvale vice mayor for 2013

A familiar face will be returning to the Sunnyvale vice mayor's seat for 2013, as Jim Griffith was elected by his fellow council members on Jan. 8. Griffith served as vice mayor in 2011.

The Apple software engineer edged out councilmen Jim Davis and Chris Moylan. Mayor Tony Spitaleri, meanwhile, is starting the second year of his two-year term.

"I will point out that we are entering a period of extreme growth in the high-tech sector, more so than in the previous years," Griffith said. "I think the mayor would be served well by a right-hand man that speaks high tech fluently."

It took three rounds of voting for Griffith to win the vice mayorship. Three votes were cast for him during the first round, while Moylan and Davis each got two votes.

After a tie-breaker, Griffith went head to head with Moylan, winning with four votes. He will be sworn in at the Jan. 15 council meeting.

At the Jan. 8 meeting, the council also held a public hearing on potential 2013 study issues. Six people spoke to different issues, including a putting dog park at Serra Park, improving the effectiveness of street space policies, downtown parking and the historical preservation of buildings.

Study and budget issues are proposed year-round by the council, boards and commissions, the public and the city manager. The council typically reviews all study and budget issues at an annual public hearing, where residents can comment on proposed issues for study or budget consideration and suggest potential new issues.

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Issues proposed by the public must be sponsored by at least two council members to be considered at the study/budget issues workshop.

Councilman Pat Meyering offered two potential study issues involving whistle-blower protection and creating an ordinance that would prohibit council members from voting on decisions that involve a contributor to that council member's campaign.

Meyering initially proposed the two study issues during last year's workshop, but they were dropped by a majority of the council. Subsequently, they are not eligible for consideration in 2013 unless two other council members sponsor them.

On Feb. 1, the council will conduct a workshop devoted to a review of all proposed study and budget issues. Council members will rank study issues for completion during 2013 and will identify budget issues to be forwarded to the city manager for consideration in the 2013-14 budget.

The workshop will take place at 8:30 a.m. in the council chamber at city hall, 456 W. Olive Ave.

The council will not be accepting any new study issues at the Feb. 1 meeting. The deadline for new study issues is Jan. 11.